Health and beauty chain Watson’s – which just opened its 8000th store worldwide in Causeway bay last week – is following a different formula for its online offer.
Watsons online offers some 4000 products for consumers who want the convenience of shopping from home or office. But many of those lines differ from the 8000 to be found in its new Causeway bay flagship.
Cheung Wai-ping, Watsons Hong Kong GM, says exclusive online products include baby carriages and carriers, categories which don’t fit into its 200 or so physical stores across the territory.
Cheung says online shoppers are seeking more than just staple needs like milk formula and diapers.
Watsons online has experienced significant growth in recent months: this year’s sales growth is double that of last year. And the average transaction online is double the average transaction in a store, which no doubt reflects the convenience nature of much of the physical store custom.
The company may partner with other retailers to launch more products online.